Subaltern Urbanisation Revisited *

Abstract

Subaltern urbanisation is about vibrant smaller settlements—spaces outside the metropolitan shadow—sustainably supporting a dispersed pattern of urbanisation. This chapter discusses the different scales and implementation processes of governance and policy, interrogating the relevance of the rural–urban dichotomy in theory and practice. Statutory towns are recognised by state municipal acts. They are all full-fledged urban local bodies, whose governance structure and delegation of responsibilities are defined by the 74th Constitutional Amendment on decentralisation for urban areas. The nature of economic transformation can be grouped into three categories: the everyday economy; settlement-specific activities, which may reflect historical function; and new activities. Though service delivery varies, depending on the effectiveness of local governance, there is, controlling for size, little measurable difference in service provision between census and statutory towns. Social elements, such as caste, can feature prominently within political coalitions resisting or advocating the transition from rural to urban status.

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